LAHORE: At least six people including four policemen were killed when an explosion rocked Raiwind town near Lahore on Wednesday evening, ARY News reported.
According to ARY News correspondent, the blast occurred near a police check-post in the town which houses Tableeghi Markaz (gathering point for Islamic preachers belonging to Tableeghi Jamaat). The blast left six people dead and more than 20 injured.
Deputy Inspector General of police Haider Ashraf said the bomb exploded when the police were changing guards at the check-point just outside the annual congregation of Tableeghi Jamaat, where nearly 80,000 people were in attendance.
“I can at the moment say that police was the target,” he said. “It was a suicide bomber riding a motorcycle who attacked the police,” Ashraf said.
Police officials are still investigating the nature of the blast.
Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shehbaz Sharif condemned the blast and expressed deep grief and and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.
“Brave police officials lay down their lives in the line of duty. The nation is proud of sacrifices that the Punjab police, security officials & our citizens have rendered in the war on terrorism. Prayers for the departed souls & bereaved families who lost their loved ones,” Shehbaz Sharif wrote on Twitter.
Brave police officials lay down their lives in the line of duty. The nation is proud of sacrifices that the Punjab police, security officials & our citizens have rendered in the war on terrorism. Prayers for the departed souls & bereaved families who lost their loved ones!
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 14, 2018
The Chief Minister also directed the authorities to provide best possible medical facilities and treatment to the injured persons.
THQ Hospital #Raiwind has received 6 dead bodies:
1. Amir Afridi from Kohat (private)
2. Tanveer [21725/c]
3. M. Aslam [SI]
4. Saeed [11343/c]
5. Unknown [as of now]
6. Unknown [as of now]— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) March 14, 2018
THQ Hospital #Raiwind has received 14 injured persons: [1/2]
1. M naeem [14518/c]
2. Sabir [22206/c]
3. Manzoor [656/L. SI]
4. Israr [21789/c]
5. Karamat TSI
6. Abid Hussain [13548/c]
7. Babar Hayat [20664/c]
8. M Farooq [21033/c]
9. M Akram [20991\c]— Govt Of The Punjab (@GovtOfPunjab) March 14, 2018
The injured have been shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) Raiwind where some of them are said to be in a critical condition, triggering fears that the death toll might go up.
No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
